Thread: Thru Necks

Originally Posted by Amphis

Hi all,

Making a Bass and i am curious to know if the wood surrounding the thru-neck (the wings) will effect the quality of the sound, and what woods are good for the neck.

Anything would be great...

I can't really say what is good for a neck wood because I haven't made a bass yet. But as for the wings, I really don't think it would affect the tone at all if it was a different (lighter) kind of wood.

I recently made a guitar, Telecaster style, with Tasmanian Blackwood and the thing was too bloody heavy! So, I cut off the wings and replaced them with a lighter wood (Oregon) and there is no noticeable difference in tone. In fact, I would imagine it would sound identical without the wings at all!

From my understanding, the important thing is where the bridge contacts the wood because that is where the resonance occurs. Everything else is aesthetics.

Cheers
Nobus

Cheers Nobus,

Thats the answer i was hoping for, i am also making one out of blackwood, where exactly should the bridge be put for best tone, in your opinion?

The position of the bridge is entirely dependent on the scale length. The distance from the nut to the 12th fret is the distance from the 12th fret to the bridge. And by bridge I mean the foremost extension of the position where the string sits on the bridge. The bridge position should be to the scale length or longer.

Nobus

Originally Posted by Nobus

The position of the bridge is entirely dependent on the scale length. The distance from the nut to the 12th fret is the distance from the 12th fret to the bridge. And by bridge I mean the foremost extension of the position where the string sits on the bridge. The bridge position should be to the scale length or longer.

Nobus

Where the strings sits is called the saddle.

Originally Posted by luxemburg

Where the strings sits is called the saddle.

LOL - the word completely escaped me!

I would be careful making a neck thru Bass out of full blackwood, you may need a roadie to hold you up while you play it . If you can find a light piece of mahogany or may be a lamination of rock maple and blackwood. I don't know about the wings playing no part in the sound though? Jelutong is another option for the wings or QLD Maple, Alder?

I know many players with guitars with neck thru blackwood including a few woman.
Only pussys can not hold up the guitar.
Cheers Bob

Originally Posted by Bigriver

I would be careful making a neck thru Bass out of full blackwood, you may need a roadie to hold you up while you play it . If you can find a light piece of mahogany or may be a lamination of rock maple and blackwood. I don't know about the wings playing no part in the sound though? Jelutong is another option for the wings or QLD Maple, Alder?

You know there are other timbers than just Blackwood? You seem take it personal if someone suggests something else?

You can chamber the wings quite easily. Which will take alot of weight out of the guitar.

I would never choose alder for a neck thru, or anything unless it was getting a thick coloured spray. Its just too ugly.

Have a look at some of carl thompsons basses and you will get some ideas. You could make the core from blackwood and chamber it and put figured caps on it.